Mighty Sparrow Highlights West Indian Independence Show

July 22, 1993|By ROGER CATLIN; Courant Rock Critic

The annual West Indian Independence Celebration will be capped Aug. 7 by a special show by calypso king The Mighty Sparrow at Hartford's Capitol Hall.

Other upcoming events in the West Indian community include a return visit by Yellowman at Hartford's Caribbean Club Aug. 21, in a show also featuring John Holt, Frankie Paul, The Mighty Diamonds and Baja Dedd and others. Beres Hammond Buju Banton are due in town Sept. 3.

But a show scheduled by Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers July 31 at the Sportsman's Athletic Club in Hartford has been postponed; the band is still set to play the Marquis Theatre in Norwalk July 30 before embarking on a tour with Midnight Oil.

Though it's in the middle of a California tour, Tower of Power will fly out here for its only East Coast summer date Aug. 14, as part of the 10th annual Shaboo Inn Reunion on the grounds of the Franco American Club in Windham. The occasion also includes a special reunion of the Fabulous Rhinestones, the original James Montgomery Band, and NRBQ with the Whole Wheat Horns. Also on the bill are Max Creek, Texas Flood and the Shaboo All-Stars.

Look for Fugazi to play the University of Connecticut fieldhouse in Storrs Sept. 18.

Elton John, Sting, Phil Collins, Bonnie Raitt and Jimmy Buffett have been mentioned as joining Don Henley in his latest fund-raiser for Walden Woods Project, tentatively set for Sept. 6 at Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts.

James Taylor releases his first double live album Aug. 3; in a short autumn tour, he has scheduled a series of shows Sept. 22, 23, 26 and 27 at New York's Paramount Theatre.

WHAT'S NEW

The Radiators have been added to the Allman Brothers/Warren Haynes Band bill Aug. 14 at the Thames River Music Center, which went on sale last weekend. It will give Haynes a chance to rest between gigs with both bands. As the last time the Allmans played the site, on the grounds of the U.S. Submarine Base in Groton, things will start early -- 5:30 p.m.

There's also an early start time -- 6 p.m. -- for the Santana and Bob Dylan show at Groton Sept. 5, where The Wailing Souls have been added as openers.

Peter Gabriel, who has been holding his W.O.M.A.D. (World of Music Arts & Dance) festivals in Europe for 11 years, will bring it to North America for the first time this fall. Gabriel will perform in the daylong fest, along with Crowded House, James and Inner Circle and an array of other world performers including Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart, John Trudell and the Drummers of Burundi. Closest dates so far are in Montreal Sept. 5 and Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Sept. 6, but more dates are expected to be announced.

UB40's show at Toad's Place in New Haven tonight has been postponed to Wednesday; the Friday show is on as usual. The band wanted one more day of rehearsals before the club dates that will kick off its summer tour. Refunds are available at the point of purchase until noon Wednesday.

Toad's has added a couple of low-budget, $2.99 admission shows -- Allgood on July 29 and The Odds Aug. 8. Roomful of Blues returns Aug. 6.

Wednesday's Galactic Cowboys show at The Sting was canceled because the band has been tapped to open a tour by Jackyl. That's because Jackyl is no longer opening act for Aerosmith; Megadeth has been opening Aerosmith shows, mostly on the West Coast, and will continue to do so until the band gets home to its sold out shows at Great Woods in Mansfield, Mass., on Aug. 26 and 27, where 4 Non Blondes opens.

Paul Westerberg's solo tour, which began with a surprise show in Cambridge, Mass., last month, will come only as close as Irving Plaza in New York Aug. 5 (which is already sold out), The Paradise in Boston Aug. 10 and tiny Club Babyhead in Providence Aug. 11.

Extreme headlines a show at Big Birch Ski Area in Patterson, N.Y., Aug. 13. The Kinks show there has been moved from Wednesday to July 31. Aimee Mann opens.

Polyps on Tommy Stinson's vocal chords caused the cancellation of the show by his band Bash & Pop at the El 'N' Gee in New London Monday; the show by Hammerbox at the El 'N' Gee this Saturday has been canceled, replaced by the reformed female metal band Girlschool.

Monday's Raging Slab and Monster Magnet show at The Sting Monday, meanwhile, was canceled due to poor ticket sales. The two bands are still scheduled to play the Marquee in Norwalk Friday. Nevertheless, The Sting was listed as No. 8 in business among clubs with a capacity of more than 800 in a mid-year report in Performance Magazine.

David Crosby and Graham Nash play the Berkshire Performing Arts Center in Lenox, Mass., Aug. 11.

Five bands play Trinity College in a free afternoon show Sunday featuring Trumans Water, New Radiant Storm Kings, Archers of Loaf, Nothing Painted Blue and Transylvanian Death Express. The 2-6 p.m. event, to be held outdoors near the music dorms at Vernon and Summitt streets, is sponsored by campus station WRTC (89.3 FM).